Canadian company fined $15 million for subscription trap scam

January 28, 2021 – GATINEAU, QC – Competition Bureau

A Canadian company doing business as Revive You Media (1806369 Alberta Limited) pleaded guilty today in the Provincial Court of Ontario for promoting deceptive free trial offers for health and dietary supplements that trapped consumers into monthly subscriptions.

The company was fined $15 million and is also subject to a ten-year court order prohibiting it from any direct or indirect involvement in promoting deceptive trial offers. Potential penalties for breaking the order include a fine at the court’s discretion or up to 5 years in prison.

A Competition Bureau investigation concluded that Revive You Media operated a subscription trap scam. The Bureau found that the company provided a false impression on its websites that consumers were ordering free trials without any further obligations. In fact, the company was signing up consumers for subscriptions with more than $100 in monthly fees.

The company used claims such as “risk-free trial” and “just pay a small shipping fee” to mislead consumers. The real cost and nature of the offers were not disclosed on the company’s websites in a way that was clear and apparent for consumers.

The Competition Act forbids companies and individuals from making false or misleading claims to promote a product, service or business interest.

Quotes

“The Competition Bureau is determined to crack down on those who use deceptive marketing to steal Canadians’ hard-earned money. With the  recent surge in online shopping, I would like to remind Canadians to be on the lookout for deceptive marketing and strongly encourage anyone who suspects wrongdoing to report it to the Bureau.”

Matthew Boswell,
Commissioner of Competition

Quick facts

• The Bureau’s investigation focused on the company’s websites that promoted health and dietary supplements, including Supreme Garcinia Cambogia and Pure Slim Cleanse.
• The company offered partial refunds to consumers who complained, and full refunds to those who threatened to contact law enforcement.
• Court orders under the deceptive marketing practices provisions of the Competition Act are for a maximum of 10 years.
• The Competition Bureau issued a consumer alert in March 2020 to help Canadians protect themselves against subscription traps.
• We encourage anyone who suspects deceptive or anti-competitive activities to file a complaint with the Bureau by using our online form.